"Forty-two years had elapsed since a civilian was allowed to enter and view the gold vault," Sen. Rand Paul wrote.

Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky wants to make sure the amount of gold the military says is stored at Fort Knox is really there. He says “the more sunlight, the better.”

The US Bullion Depository at Fort Knox houses 147.3 million troy ounces of gold, representing 59 per cent of the US Treasury’s reserves. Valued at $435 billion at market rates but listed at $6 billion on government books,